DESIGN is an information gathering and problem solving "process" which is intended to culminate in a plan of attack for completing a project (see WHAT IS LANDSCAPE DESIGN?).
CONSULTATION is the act or process of giving expert or professional advice.
The primary distinction between design work and consultation lies with the intended outcome or objectives of the endeavor. The objective of the design process is to arrive at a plan of attack for completing a desired project. The objective of consultation is simply to provide expertise and advice on specific issues.
The main difference between a designer and a consultant is the degree to which they are involved in a project. The designer has overall responsibility for conducting the entire design process. A consultant only provides expertise and advice on specific issues. A consultant can give valuable advice throughout a project without fully understanding the overall scope and objectives of the project. Such is not the case with a designer. The designer must understand everything about the project; how everything fits together. By definition, a designer is a consultant, but a consultant is not necessarily a designer.
At Wayside, we normally rebate design fees when our crews complete a project (see LANDSCAPE DESIGN / CONSULTATION CONTRACT for details). However, consultation fees are usually not rebated, because there is rarely any crew work associated with advice given outside of the design process.
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